What does "sweaty" mean in gaming? Explained

What does sweaty mean in gaming?

If a player refers to someone as ‘sweaty’ or a ‘sweat’, they’re saying that person is playing too seriously or trying too hard to win. A similar, interchangeable term is a ‘try-hard’.

We know it sounds weird to be criticized for trying in an online game, so we’ll explain how this word is used in the gaming community.

What is a sweaty play?

You might get called sweaty in an online lobby for any of the following:

• Squaring the ball in a one-on-one in FIFA.
• Camping in an FPS.
• Not engaging an opponent in a knife fight even if they’re clearly about to lose.
• Using any weapons, tactics, or characters that are seen as OP.

Is being sweaty bad?

Being sweaty isn’t necessarily bad — in fact, it can actually be a good thing if you’re playing competitively. The kind of traits that would get someone called sweaty win games.

In terms of community sentiment, a lot of players look down on anyone being too sweaty, especially in casual modes. If you’re playing a fun game mode with friends and you’ve all agreed to use a jokey weapon, and yet you come equipped with your best-in-slot gear, then you’re probably being sweaty in the bad way.

Why use the word ‘sweaty’, though?

When a player is focusing extremely hard on a competitive game, their palms and face might begin to sweat. People use this word as an insult, then, to imply that another player is taking the situation too seriously.